She was lost, falling fast and if felt divine.
While his mouth moved wickedly over hers, his tongue plunged deeper into her mouth. His hand slid seductively around her back, up under her waistcoat, balling the thin linen shirt into his fist. His other hand gripped her hip and both worked together to urge her closer into his hard body.
He broke contact and sucked in a breath. “Good God,” he growled against her ear.
In a daze, she opened her eyes to look at him — and screamed.
The unmarked carriage had stopped on the road directly behind them. The occupant, a woman, was hanging out of the window watching their amorous display. Thankfully, the coachman did not look their way but sat like a solid lump of stone staring out at the road ahead.
“It’s just my coachman,” Dane said looking back over his shoulder. He released her and straightened her clothing. “Wait here.”
She watched him storm across the grass, raking his hand through his hair and pulling at the sleeves of his coat. The woman threw herself back into the carriage, closed the window and yanked down the blind.
The coachman did not move.
A brief conversation ensued between the two men, the coachman’s gaze following his master as he paced back and forth. Then Dane climbed inside the carriage and promptly closed the door.
Sophie hated herself.
She hated the way she felt when Dane kissed her. She hated the way her body betrayed her so easily, succumbing to his touch. She hated that she’d stood there dumbstruck, while he climbed into the carriage to offer an explanation to his mistress. Most of all, she hated the jealousy that writhed in her chest.
Allowing anger and frustration to bolster her courage, she decided to confront them. The least she deserved was an explanation. So she stomped across the grass, picking up her hat and coat. As she approached the carriage, the coachman coughed loudly. Before she could raise her hand to knock, the door swung open and Dane vaulted out.
“I hate to spoil your little tete-a-tete,” Sophie said placing her hand on her hip. “But will someone please tell me what on earth is going on.”
“If you’d care to step inside,” he said pulling down the steps for her to climb in. “Amy will explain everything.”
“Why would I —” Sophie began.
Dane did not give her chance to finish before scooping her up in his arms, dumping her on the carriage floor and folding up the steps. “Until tomorrow, Miss Beaufort,” he said, offering a graceful bow as Amy darted forward and pulled the door shut.
“Do not stop until you reach town,” Dane shouted as the carriage lurched forward.
Chapter 10
“The Marquess of Danesfield,” Dudley Spencer’s butler announced without the slightest inflection.
His friend would most certainly find the introduction amusing, Sebast
ian thought, as he stepped across the threshold into the study.
As predicted, Dudley walked around the desk and gave a theatrical bow. “My lord, welcome to my humble abode.”
Sebastian grasped Dudley’s shoulders and pulled him into a welcoming embrace, as though it had been considerably longer than a week since they last met.
“What has brought you back to London so soon? Please tell me you’re not missing me already,” Dudley teased. His smile faded as he examined Sebastian’s dusty and slightly crumpled attire. “Did you ride here directly?” Dudley asked, his voice laced with concern.
Sebastian smiled. “You always were extremely perceptive.”
“Is that not why we work so well together?” Dudley placed a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Come, take a seat. Have you eaten?”
“Not since last night,” Sebastian sighed, throwing himself into the leather chair opposite Dudley’s desk. “There is someone I wish to avoid and I could hardly call in at my club looking like this.”
Haines had not taken Miss Beaufort to his official London residence, but to a house he used purely for business purposes. A house in a quieter part of town where his neighbours were not members of the ton, but doctors, lawyers and bachelors who all struggled to make time to eat and sleep, let alone concern themselves with other people’s affairs.
She would be safe there.
Dudley rang the bell, requested a cold platter and a bottle of his best claret and then took a seat behind his desk and focused an inquisitive gaze on Sebastian. “Now you have my full attention,” he said. Leaning back in the chair, he steepled his fingers. “What do you mean there is someone you wish to avoid? Please tell me this is not about a woman.”